If im getting a new reptile what should it be?

Question

Okay some of you are familiar with the story of the iguana i found, but for the sake of others ill say it again. So i have a little kitten which ( unusually ) directed me to the iguana, its obvious that it was someone pet, it was in horrible state with vermiscular dermatitis and a strong fungal cream entered her eyes and probably, she injested it, i had it for such a short while, but we very much bonded till she died. I have a lot of experience with iguanas, dn't question me, I know more than an average vet about iguanas. I don't know why i really loved it, more than my 2 year old iguanas. So I felt like I wanna get another family member. My parents also wants a pet that they can enjoy with too. AN iguana would be best, any substitutions, or any other great common pets. Maybe a leopard gecko, but its not easy to find crickets and mealworms here.

Answer 1

How about a blue tongue skink? They are very docile (usually), they only grow to about 2 feet, you feed them crickets, worms, veggies, my vet told me a pinkie mouse or hopper once a week (Yura had vitamin deficencies). They can live in a 40 gallon breeder tank.  

bluetongueskinks.net is a great website for more info.

Answer 2

it red slider turtles there cute when small and cheap gravel is 5 bucks filter 20 bucks rock 15 bucks lamp free and 109 gallon tank is 10 bucks

Environment

-RES's enjoy large areas where they are free to swim. These turtles also require a basking area, where they can leave the water and enjoy the light you provide for them. UVB heat lamps are usually the best option and most common among those taking proper care of their turtles. However, UVB heat lamps have not been proven to have the same quality as direct, unfiltered UV rays from the sun. Therefore, it is recommended that on days with more sun you take your turtles out with you to enjoy it, even if this is only possible in the Spring/Summer. Note: Although not nearly ideal, RESs have been known to remain healthy even with a regular light bulb or halogen light as their source of basking heat

-For the basking area, the best choice is an actual dirt or sand area, if this is at all possible. This is especially suggested if you have different s*x turtles. The real land area will allow for an impregnated female to lay her eggs, or at least attempt to. Since these turtles like to climb, flat rocks also make good basking areas as well as provide areas for entertainment.

-Plant life, either fake or real also increases RES quality of life, mimicking their natural environment. The real plants can also serve as a source of food.

-Turtles highly enjoy fresh, clean and clear water. A good filter can help accomplish this. Also, once every two weeks about 25% of the water should be removed and replaced with new water, and the filter cleaned. It is also strongly recommended that if you have a large enough tank, as well as the proper pH and water temperature, to keep fast freshwater fish. In a large enough tank with areas for fish to hide, it is very unlikely that they will be eaten. Meanwhile, the majority of freshwater fish will feed on the leftovers of what you feed your turtles, as well as the turtle's f***s, both which allow for a much cleaner environment for both the turtles and the fish.

As pets

The Red-eared Slider is commonly kept as a pet and often sold cheaply. As with other turtles, tortoises and box turtles, it can be difficult to care for and can live up to forty years.

Red-eared sliders can be quite aggressive. If being kept as a pet, it is not recommended to keep it with another turtle, especially one that is smaller than the RES. Unless the red-ear slider live together from a young age. The RES may even kill or injure other turtles, especially smaller ones.

Turtles can carry salmonella bacteria in their digestive system without becoming sick. Humans can become sick if they do not thoroughly wash their hands after handling turtles or any equipment used with them. Children and those with impaired immune systems usually suffer the most when exposed.

Reproduction

Courtship and mating activities for Red-eared Sliders usually occur between March and July, and take place underwater. The male swims toward the female and flutters or vibrates the back side of his long claws on and around her face and head. The female will swim toward the male and, if she is receptive, will sink to the bottom for mating. If the female is not receptive, she may become aggressive towards the male. The courtship can take up to forty-five minutes, but the mating itself usually takes only ten to fifteen minutes.[citation needed]

Sometimes a male will appear to be courting another male. This is actually a sign of dominance and the males may begin to fight. Juveniles may display the courtship dance, but until the turtles are five years of age they are not mature and unable to mate.[citation needed]

After mating, the female will spend extra time basking in order to keep her eggs warm. She may also have a change of diet, eating only certain foods or not eating as much as she normally would. Ovulation begins in May and egg-laying occurs in May through early July. A female might lay from two to thirty eggs, with larger females have the largest clutches. One female can lay up to five clutches in the same year and clutches are usually spaced twelve to thirty-six days apart. [7]

Eggs will hatch sixty to ninety days after they have been laid. Late season hatchlings may spend the winter in the nest and emerge when the weather warms in the spring. New hatchlings will cut open their egg with an egg tooth, which falls out about an hour after hatching. This tooth never grows back. Hatchlings may stay inside their eggshells after hatching for the first day or two. When a hatchling decides to leave the shell, it will have a small sac protruding from its bottom plastron. Just prior to hatching the egg contains 50% Turtle and 50% egg sac. The yolk sac is vital and provides nourishment while visible and several days after it has been absorbed into the Turtles belly. Damage or motion enough to allow air into the Turtle's body results in death. This is the main reason for marking the top of Turtle eggs if their relocation for any reason is required. An egg that has been rotated upside down will eventually terminate the embryo growth by the sac smothering the embryo. If it manages to reach term, the Turtle will try to flip over with the yolk sac which will no doubt allow air into the body cavity and death follows as noted. The other killer is water into the body cavity before the sac is absorbed completely and the opening has almost completely healed. I find 21 days from egg opening until water entry. The sac will never fall off by itself, it must be absorbed. The split may be noticeable in the hatchling's plastron on Turtles found in the field indicating the age of the Turtle to be about 3 weeks old. As noted the split must heal on its own before allowing the Turtle to swim. This does not preclude the need for moisture throughout the first 3 weeks of life out of the egg. I place my Hatchlings on moist paper towels. As a matter of fact the eggs are on these towels from the day they are laid (I dig them up an hour after laying)and covered with toweling until they hatch and can swim. The Turtle can also suck the water it needs from the toweling. Red Ear Slider eggs matriculate in South Florida in 91 days while in New York City the egg takes 102 days. Turtles relocated exhibited this effect with constancy.[citation needed]

The Turtle egg is fertilized as it is being laid and buried in the sand. The time between mating and egg laying can be days or weeks. This concept also supports the fact that a Turtle mating can provide for viable eggs two seasons in a row

Hibernation

The term for hibernation in reptiles is brumation. Brumation can occur in varying degrees. RES brumate over the winter at the bottom of ponds or shallow lakes. They become inactive, generally, in October, when temperatures fall below 50°F (10°C). Individuals usually brumate underwater. They have also been found under banks and hollow stumps and rocks. Their brumation does not go uninterrupted. In warmer winter climates they can become active and come to the surface for basking. When the temperature begins to drop again, however, they will quickly return to a brumation state. Sliders will generally come up for food in early March to as late as the end of April.

Diet

Red-eared Sliders are omnivores and eat a variety of animal and plant materials in the wild including, but not limited to fish, crayfish, carrion, tadpoles, snails,and will eat other turtles, aquatic insects and numerous aquatic plant species. The captive diet for pet RES should closely match the natural diet and can also include other foods such as feeder fish, dead, thawed fuzzy mice, earthworms,small snakes , cooked egg with the crumbled shell included and leafy greens. Commercial turtle foods should be used sparingly due to insufficient scientific research and vitamin and mineral imbalances. [5] Calcium (for shell health) can be supplemented by adding pieces of cuttlebone to the diet. Younger turtles tend to be more carnivorous (eat more animal protein) than adults do. As they grow larger and older, they become increasingly herbivorous. Live foods are particularly enjoyed and add to the quality of life of captive turtles. Providing a wide variety of foods is the key to success with captive RES. [6]

Behavior

The female Red-eared Slider grows to be 25-30 cm (10-12 in) in length and males 20-25 cm (8-10 in). They are almost entirely aquatic, but do leave the water to bask in the sun and lay eggs. These reptiles are deceptively fast and are also excellent swimmers. They hunt for prey and will attempt to capture it when the opportunity presents itself. They are very aware of predators and people and generally shy away from them. In fact, the RES frantically slides off rocks and logs when approached - hence the name.

Contrary to popular misconception, Red-eared Sliders do not produce saliva, but--like most aquatic turtles--they have fixed tongues. This is the reason they must eat their food in water.

Distribution and Habitat

The Red-eared Slider is native to the area around the Mississippi River down to the Gulf of Mexico. It thrives in warmer climates, particularly the Southeast quadrant of the United States. Such an area would be east of and below Colorado to Virginia down to Florida, naturally residing in areas with calm, fresh, warm water. This includes ponds, lakes, marshes, creeks, and streams. It prefers quiet areas with a basking area, such a large flat rock or a floating log, in full sunlight. It is common for RES to bask together and even on top of each other. There is also abundant vegetation, which is the main component of an adult slider's diet. Wild individuals will stay close to a water source unless they are in search of a new one. A female Red-eared Slider will also leave the water to lay eggs.

The pet trade has expanded its range around the world, often at the expens

Answer 3

Crested geckos are pretty nice pets, and not many people think of these.  They are generally very tame and come around to being handled quite easily.  Another great advantage to them is that they have a "completely diet" available that is a powder mixed with water.  They would need no other supplements and only would want a bit of fruit baby food every once in a while to have as a treat.  They need no special lighting and generally room temperature is appropriate for them.  Many sites have caresheets availible just search it.  Just know if their tails fall off they do not come back.  

And also, if you are worried about getting crickets for any other reptiles just use the link below, there are always live foods readily available from this supplier.

Answer 4

i think that you should get an iguana. it seems that you bonded super welll with your other one and you'd be a great parent to another one as well! if you'd like to look at other options, bearded dragons are wonderful pets! (however, they do eat crickets) they're very docile. good luck finding a new pet! :)

Answer 5

i think you should get a crested gecko.they are fun to watch and you dont have to give them bugs if they are hard to find for you.you can only give them crested gecko diet.a powder that you mix with water.they can be handle but they are unpredictable pets and love to jump.they are more active at night and can live 20 years so they are  lifetime pets.

here are some good website on cresties:

http://www.pangeareptile.com/id52.htm

http://www.thegeckospot.com/crestedcarei...

http://www.ciliatus.com/content/index.ph...

good luck with your new pet!

Answer 6

The best thing to do would be follow your heart. If you get something other than an iguana just to get something different, but you really want an iguana, will you actually get the bond simalar to the one you had with the little one or will you regret not getting the pet you really wanted. Then again 3 fully grown iguanas are going to take an awfull lot of food and room. Leo's are lovely and make great pets as long as you can get hold of food for them. Can you not buy food over the internet?

Maybe just take a few trips to local rep shops and wait to see what captures your heart, there will be something that you cant bear to leave the shop without. When you find it, do your research then go for it.

Answer 7

iguana's get big u always have to stress this to any1 (including your parents) tell them that they require alot of care and having a 6foot lizard hanging around this house isn't always that fun (especially if its in a grumpy mood lol) just make sure they are totally ready for it and how long it gonna live and all its costs food and housing requirements(full grown iggys require a vivarium the size of a small room).

as for something else (which i would advise since iguanas aren't suitable for about 99% of experienced rep keepers let alone newbies) a bearded dragon are always fun and hardy leopard geckos as well, crested geckos are alot more active and require tall cages but make good first lizards.

whateva u take on as a family make sure u all know (not just one of you) everything that is involved with keeping reptiles as pets

oh and one last thing never impulse buy a reptile like the girl below suggests retiles need to be researched then get the equipment set up for a week to monitor the temps then buy the rep

impulse buying is why there are so many questions on here about Ive got a lizard/frog/salamander i dont know what it is or how to house it or what it eats or what temp to keep it at oh i killed it silly me

makes me sick

response to the parent comment: u said it was going to be a new family memeber this strongly suggests it going to be a house hold pet not just yours